Re: How much playtime?

"~Shelly~" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Hi, new poster here.

Hi.

>  My daughter got a ferret about a year ago, and a couple of months
> later, we were given another, so now there are two.  As we had never
> met anyone who kept ferrets before, we have been playing it by ear.

How have you ramped up?  Have you read a ferret book?  Searched for
ferret related info on the net?  Been participating in other ferret discussion
forums?

> Each ferret has a cage, aproximately 1.5x2x2 ft
> in, we had to keep them separated at first because the male would play
> too hard with the female and we didn't feel she should be harrassed
> all the time.

> The problem?  I think they need more time out of the cages and more
> time to roam.  Currently they are only out for one hour a day, and are
> sometimes put in one cage together now that they play nicely together.

Ferrets do love to wrestle, and at times it can get pretty rough.  If they've
learned each other's limits and things have settled down, I think you have
the right idea... get them a significantly larger cage and keep them together.
For example, one with a hammock and a cube (so they can sleep separately
when they want) and perhaps a couple of levels (so they can stretch their
legs a bit).  That will make their caged time more pleasant.

I'd agree with you that they need more time out of the cage.  Based on the
behavior of the ferrets I know, I'd say a minimum of 4-5 hours per day,
with an outing in the morning and an outing in the evening.

> Our house is small, and people are always coming in and out, so we
> have to lock the doors when the ferrets are out.  The female is a little
> escape artist and has gotten out several times []

Ouch.

> Should they have an outdoor run?

Is there no way to set aside one room or one section of the house for
them to play in?  That would be my first choice, for it would be trivial
to setup/secure, is climate controlled (hopefully), and they would be
easier to check on.

If there are truly no other options, I guess you could investigate the
viability of an outdoor run.  But keep in mind that ferrets are quite good
at sneaking through small openings, digging tunnels, climbing mesh, etc
so it would need to be built smartly and enclosed on all sides in order
keep them in and other things out.  Would they have enough sense to
walk through a swing door and come in when it is too cold or too hot?
I think they would, but there is only one way to find out ;-)